«In a world that’s more and more connected, it can be easy to forget that technology – however useful it is – doesn’t replace connecting people of different languages and cultures. The work we do every day does much to reduce divisions, and the theme of this year’s International Translation Day is the occasion to remind everyone, including ourselves, of how important our role is in facilitating linguistic and cultural communication and understanding.»

«There is something very powerful in how language connects worlds. In the same way as we take roads, railway and flights for granted to take us from one place to another, we very often treat language, the infrastructure of thought, as given. Yet we, translators and interpreters, help words travel across worlds. Isn’t this a huge task?»

«How we perceive ourselves is how the world perceives us. In order to convince our clients that we are professionals, we as freelance translators and interpreters need to understand that we in fact are business-driven entrepreneurs. Act as a business-person, raise your self-esteem, refuse to accept low-standard rates and make sure to meet your clients on eye-level.»

«Connection is the path to unity.
Understanding oneness becomes a cultural, social and personal awakening and process of acceptance, integration, innovation. You find yourself in somebody else’s experiences, perceptions, vibes and it is in this process that a new you and a new me can rise.
However, connection also leads to selection and when innovation takes place, it is not unlikely to face change, opposing forces and conflict.
Fear, hate, power, stereotypes can all be transmitted through the distorted use of translation, especially when this is used as a mean to force, obtain, as a selfish mean and as a weapon for revenge or destruction, rather than as a path to understanding.
So, what’s key is understanding unity. Connecting worlds is about recognising the human in front of you and asking the other to do the same, in a safe and respectful way.
It’s not easy. But, I think we have to remember we are all together in this, as translators, as much as human beings, and that although connection is a challenging path, challenges can’t be avoided, communication is complex. So it is our (beautiful) responsibility to plunge into our role and break fear, hate, power, stereotypes because this is what worlds are about: connecting to break limits and create a better world.»